Avocados is a fruit that can be used in a loads of recipes from guacamole to smoothies. If you have your own avocado tree, you can enjoy the benefits of fresh, home grown avocados. However picking the perfect avocado can still be a daunting task with so many different varieties and stages of ripeness to consider.
It’s important to have a look at the colour of the avocado. A ripe avocado should have a dark green or black colour while a light green hue indicates that it’s not yet ripe. Once you’ve narrowed down the selection it’s time to assess the ripeness by giving the avocado a gentle squeeze. A ripe avocado should be firm but slightly give under pressure. If it’s too hard it’s not ripe yet and if it’s too soft, it’s overripe. Another trick to check for ripeness is to remove the stem. If the stem comes off easily and the area is green the avocado is ripe and ready to use. If it’s brown the avocado is overripe and may not be suitable for consumption.
It is also important to consider the variety of the avocado. Hass avocados are known for their creamy texture and can be enjoyed when they’re slightly underripe whereas Fuerte avocados are larger and have a thinner skin making them best enjoyed when fully ripe.
If you’re planning to use avocados in a recipe, it’s a good idea to harvest them in advance to allow time for them to ripen. If you need to ripen an avocado quickly, place your avo in a brown paper bag with a banana to speed up the process. Not all ripe avocados look the same. Some may have blemishes or imperfections, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re not delicious. The focus should be on the ripeness and texture of the avocado, rather than its appearance.
Picking the perfect avocado can be a simple process with the right information. By considering the colour, ripeness and variety of the avocado, as well as planning ahead when necessary, you can enjoy the many benefits of this nutritious fruit.
